JAIPUR: At his rally under the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Banswara today, Rahul Gandhi specifically targeted the youth and tribal votes, just a couple of months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Rahul promised that if the Congress comes to power at the centre, it will ensure 30 lakh jobs for youths from deprived backgrounds.
He also pledged that unemployed youth would undergo a special training program throughout the year to enhance their employability, with the government providing Rs 1 lakh per annum for advanced training to all graduates.
Rahul also addressed the issue of paper leaks, which have impacted Rajasthan and several other states in North India. He asserted that Congress would enact new legislation to address the loopholes that lead to paper leaks affecting numerous youngsters across the country.
Speaking in the tribal belt, Rahul criticized the Modi government for excluding tribal president Draupadi Murmu from the grand opening ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, where the nation's elite were invited. Referring to the manifesto, Rahul reiterated five resolutions for the youth: recruitment, trust, confirmed first job, freedom from paper leaks, and youth empowerment.
Aiming at the Central Government, he stated, "The country comprises 50 percent backward individuals, 8 per cent tribals, 15 percent Dalits, and 15 percent minorities. Despite constituting 90 percent of the country's population, the participation of backward, Dalit, tribal, and minority communities is scarcely visible."
Rahul accused the BJP of favoring capitalism and neglecting tribal interests, emphasizing, "The President of the country is a tribal, yet she was absent from the Ram Mandir Pratishtha Mahotsav. The event was attended by industrialists and billionaires, but not farmers, laborers, or tribals. The five per cent controlling the nation's institutions raise the greatest concerns regarding India's progress."
During his speech, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the importance of revealing the demographic composition of major institutions to showcase the underrepresentation of tribals and Dalits.
He emphasized the need for a caste census to expose how the majority of the population is disadvantaged. Additionally, he pledged support for tribal rights in the fight for water, forests, and land.
National President Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the Congress prioritizes the interests of the poor, contrasting this with the BJP's policies, which he claimed hinder progress for marginalized communities. He criticized the BJP for undermining initiatives such as MNREGA and compulsory education, which were strengthened during Congress's tenure.